Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-12-17
THE DALLAS CONVENTION.

Houston Post: The citizens meeting
at the Cotton Exchange yesterday for the
purpose of sending delegates to the Dali
las convention, called to consider meas
ures to promote immigration, was very
proper movement, and places Houston
in accord with other cities and towns of
the state, nearly all Of which have become
convinced of the need of taking such
action as will again turn the steps of the
home-seeker to Texas. The delegates ap-
pointed should not fail to attend and con.
tribute their counsel toward marking outs
course which will secure the best results.
Mean while it would be well tor the gen.
tlemen VINO intend assisting at the Dallas
convention to devote themselves to
close study of the causes which have
made the proposed assembly q supposed
necessity. They should not go with the
one idea-which has be en- so Industrious
lY spread and to which some have
charged the practical stoppage Of
immigration into the stete-name-
ly, high railroad charges, for
II they attempt to base their action upon
this as the chief assumption the founda-
ton will be too weak to sustain the struc-
ture. They are to take into consideration
the fact that practically the same rates
that have aided in building scores Of mod.
crate sized cities In every part OF the state
within the past decade are still in eX-
lstence; rates which have in few years
raised Fort Worth, for instance, from 8
mersstrsding point to large and popu-
Laaas city; which have increased the popu-
fstion of Dallas five fold in less than ten
years; which have advanced dozens Of
postCfice stations to the dignity Of cities,
and which have yearly spread the agri-
cultural ares, with comparative increase
of products. The same rates which have
done ell this and bdded hundreds Of man.
ufactories to the tsxable wealth besides,
are now in effect. Nor must the delegates
shut their eyes to the damaging
effect Of the drouth for the past two
seasons which has not only done it's
part toward reterdirg immigration, but
driven farmers from North Texas either
to other states or to the southern and
eastern portions of Texas. They should
likewise consider that the course Of some
Of our representatives in asking Congress
for an appropriation for starving farmers
must have been exceedingly injurious,
while the tales of suffering and distress
Spread throughout the north by
Rev. John Brown were discourage
ing to the prospective immigrant
ss well as dishesrtenipg to resi-
dents. The appropriation OF 500. 900 by
the state to stay the ravages Of hunger
convinced the outside world Of the dire
full condition prevailing in Texas. To
these points the delegates must address
themselves and endeavor to counteract
the effect produced abroad. The dele
gates must first seek to remove the bad
impression which these incidents helped
to fix In the minds of all prospective i'm
migrants before they can hope to attain
the object for which the convention has
been called. The Post believes this eau be
done to the satisfaction of all rational
and fair minded people, and when it has
been done there will be no difficulty in
securing immigration. The railroads
have lands for sale and are undoubtedly
ready to cooperate with the people in
any movement that looks to the settling
of the state. But land syndicates and
private owners, as well as all others, must
act in concert with the roads and mani
fest disposition to do their part. The
people must not expect the railroads to
do everything. So far the railroads have
done all that has been done, while the
state has been psrsimonious to the last
degree. The bill proposing q geological
survey Of the state, which, had it passed,
would have aided in advertising our re-
sources, was defeated by the same short
sighted policy that has governed all
along. Let the delegates study the feat
ures of the case here presented and they
will be aided in reaching a conclusion
that will result advantageously, while If
they ignore the facts pointed out they
are apt to come out of the same end Of
the horn at which they went In.